Owner's Blog

A new year brings 365 days in which to do something fun and different. Some people opt to try and run a marathon while others may pledge to get more involved in their community. For many, travel ranks high in their conversation of new years plans.

While plane, train, and automobile travel is always a great and easy way to get around, have you ever considered a river cruise? Many may not add a river cruise to their plans or may not even know the option exists to travel via river once in their destination country(ies).

River boat cruises as a means of travel has become the fastest growing segment in the travel industry, surpassing planes, trains, and major cruise lines. To put it into comparison, based on an article from River Boat Ratings, in the last five years major ocean cruise lines saw an increase in number of guests between 4-5%. River cruising in Europe has grown at an annual rate of 16%, more than tripling the number of guests.

What this means is that what once was an extra way to get around is now becoming the norm for travel. You get to see parts of regions most don't by train, plane, or car, and you get to enjoy the many amenities provided by river cruises.

City tour in Porto

While it may not have crossed your mind until now, here are seven reasons why adding a river cruise to your new year's goals is a smart, fun, and adventurous way to travel, meet new people, and expand your horizons this year:

1. River Cruises Are Extremely Popular Right Now - competition brings prices down for you

With 350,000 passengers each year--and growing--river cruises are not only popular, but that popularity keeps prices low. To stay in business, different river cruise lines need to stay competitive, and with competition high, prices stay low. As the popularity continues to increase, you may see lower prices or more included amenities.

2. Mostly all-inclusive travel

Think about the last vacation you went on and had to pay for everything a la carte. Drinks were not included, entertainment you had to not only find but pay for out-of-pocket, and you may not have had a set itinerary. Luckily, river cruises offer a lot of included amenities and an itinerary in which you can follow as little or as much as possible. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of your vacation to allow you to relax more.

3. Excellent Service - pampered living

River cruises, like any cruise, offer different types of pampering while onboard the vessel. Your cruise line may have a spa in which you can unwind, a hairdresser, lounge areas to close your eyes in, and other added amenities.

Beyond just personal pampering, river cruises also offer exquisite food service and mouth-watering cuisine with local flavors and dishes. You will not need to lift a finger with most river cruises.​

Exquisite food and service

4. Intimate Setting in which to make friends

You don't have to feel intimidated by river cruise boats. Unlike their saltwater counterparts, river cruise ships are easily manageable and carry fewer people. You will be able to cross paths will the same individual multiple times--and even indulge in the same all-inclusive amenities. This is a great way to meet people, as you have similar tastes in travel and experiences.​

Making new friends on a river cruise

5. Connectivity to outside world (as much as you like)

Your all-inclusive trip also includes free wifi. Many times, you probably have been forced to pay a fee to use wifi, or the trips were so far off-land that you are subjected to roaming charges.

Luckily, most river cruises stay directly within wifi connectivity, and it's free, so you do not need to worry about being disconnected from the world while on a river cruise. All of those social media pictures are easily uploadable for your friends to follow along with your river cruise adventures.

6. Pick of venues or itineraries with multi-stops at ports along the way in the heart of a country - you will feel like you KNOW this place!

On larger vessels, you are usually only stopping at one or two ports on the outskirts of any given country, but with a river cruise, you will explore multiple destinations in the very heart of the country you are cruising.

Cruising in the heart of a country

The excursions for each stop will also be more intimate (smaller groups) and hopefully, more aligned with your interests instead of the larger vessels which have to find certain ports and excursions to simply please the masses instead of individuals.

River cruises often come with a customized approach to their offerings. As stated above, bigger cruise lines on the ocean have an "appeal to the masses" approach without much individuality. River cruises, on the other hand, have different cruises based on interest. You may find a wine cruise, accompanied by port stops at different wineries, or you may go on a cruise focused on hiking or biking, stopping at beautiful mountainsides to climb or bike up.​

The list is varied and working with a travel agent can allow you to find a river cruise best fitted for your interests. There are many options when it comes to picking the right river cruise for you. Dependent on your travel destination, you should be able to find a river cruise that fits your needs and budget.

When booking a river cruise, you want to speak with a travel agent who is knowledgeable on picking the right cruise based on budgets, needs, and can properly work to find an itinerary that works best for you. And why not? Most travel agents do not charge for their services, and can make the difference between an ordinary trip and a wonderful trip for you.

Wonderful Trips specializes in river cruises - with access to all that are being offered around the globe. If you are in need of any information regarding pricing, planning, and pressing "GO" on a river cruise this year, then contact Wonderful Trips as your next step to a wonderful and inspiring adventure. Even now you can reach Linda at 713-899-0130. Don't wait to make this river cruise goal a reality!

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